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U ■ S C 3d ' 1 1 3 - I 

GEORGE KONIG 

( Late a Representative from Maryland ) 

MEMORIAL ADDRESSES 









DELIVERED IN THE 

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

OF THE UNITED STATES 

SIXTY- THIRD CONGRESS 



Proceedings in the House 
June 28, 1914 



Proceedings in the Senate 
June 2, 1913 



PREPARED UNDER THE DIRECTION OF 
THE JOINT COMMITTEE ON PRINTING 




WASHINGTON 
1915 



• Iff 1^1 




D. of D. 
MAR 21 1916 






TABLE OF CONTENTS 



Page 

Proceedings in the House 5 

Prayer by Rev. Henry N. Couden, D. D 5, 8 

Memorial addresses by — 

Mr. Charles P. Coady, of Maryland 11 

Mr. J. Charles Linlhicum, of Maryland 15 

Mr. David J. Lewis, of Maryland 22 

Proceedings in the Senate 25 

Funeral services 27 



[3] 




HON. GEORGE KONIG 



DEATH OF HON. GEORGE KONIG 



Proceedings in the House 

Monday, June 2, 1913. 
The House met at 12 o'clock noon. 

The Chaplain, Rev. Henry N. Couden, D.. D., offered 
the following prayer: 

Father in heaven, we wait on Thee for Thy blessing, 
that we may be wise in our conceptions, pure in our 
motives, strong in our devotion to Thee and in the things 
which make for good in the relationships of life; in our 
homes that they may be sacred; in our country, which 
safeguards our homes, protects our inherent rights; in 
our religion, which holds us close to Thee in life and in 
death. 

Again our hearts are touched by the removal of another 
Member of this body; he has answered the call which 
waits on us all — a typical American citizen who dignified 
labor by faithful service and was called by those who 
knew him best to serve them in the affairs of State and 
Nation. Make us faithful to the obligations resting upon 
us, that we may be prepared to go forward to the larger 
life without fear or doubting, and comfort those who 
knew and loved him, especially his wife and children, 
with bright hopes and anticipations for the continuance 
of his existence in another of the Father's many man- 
sions, where they shall join him. And Thine be the 
praise forever. In the name of Him who taught us the 
immortality of the soul. Amen. 

[5] 



Memorial Addresses: Representative Konig 

Mr. Linthicum. Mr. Speaker, it is my painful duty to 
announce to this House the death of my colleague, Hon. 
George Konig, of the third Maryland district, which oc- 
curred on Saturday evening last. Mr. Konig entered upon 
the activities of this life as an errand boy. He was what 
we call a " self-made man." He educated himself. His 
opportunities for acquiring an education while young were 
so meager that along with his other heavy tasks he under- 
took and acquired an education while in his twenties. 
He was energetic and persevering, and through this and 
through the many friendships which he laid up during 
life he was able to win the congressional nomination of 
the Democratic Party, and was elected to the Sixty-second 
Congress from a district which had long been in the 
possession of the opposing party. During his member- 
ship in this House he followed out the principles and 
precepts of his party at all times and under all circum- 
stances. He looked upon the platform of his party as a 
contract entered into with the people and carried out 
that contract to the letter. He was a loving husband and 
father, and one of Baltimore's good citizens. At a later 
date I shall ask the House to set apart a time for pro- 
nouncing eulogies upon his character and public services. 
At this time I present the following resolutions. 

The Clerk read as follows: 

House resolution 120 

Resolved, That the House has heard with profound sorrow of 
the death of Hon. George Konig, a Representative from the State 
of Maryland. 

Resolved, That a committee of 14 Members of the House, with 
such Members of the Senate as may be joined, be appointed to 
attend the funeral. 

Resolved, That the Sergeant at Arms of the House be authorized 
and directed to take such steps as may be necessary for carrying 
out the provisions of these resolutions, and that the necessary ex- 

[6] 



Proceedings in the House 



penses in connection therewith be paid out of the contingent fund 
of the House. 

Resolved, That the Clerk communicate these resolutions to the 
Senate and transmit a copy thereof to the family of the deceased. 

The resolutions were agreed to. 

Under the resolution the Speaker appointed the fol- 
lowing committee: Mr. Covington, Mr. Talbott of Mary- 
land, Mr. Linthicum, Mr. Smith of Maryland, Mr. Lewis 
of Maryland, Mr. McDermott, Mr. Barkley, Mr. Sabath, 
Mr. Baker, Mr. Hayes, Mr. Bartholdt, Mr. Barton, Mr. 
Woods, and Mr. Gardner. 

The Speaker. The Clerk will report the remaining reso- 
lution. 

The Clerk read as follows: 

Resolved, That as a further mark of respect this House do now 
adjourn. 

The resolution was agreed to; accordingly (at 2 o'clock 
and 2 minutes p. m.) the House adjourned until to- 
morrow, Tuesday, June 3, 1913, at 12 o'clock noon. 



Tuesday, June 16, 19U. 

Mr. Coady. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that 
Sunday, June 28, be set apart for eulogies on the late 
Representative Konig, of Maryland, and that there be a 
session of the House on that day for that purpose. 

The Speaker. The gentleman from Maryland [Mr. 
Coady] asks unanimous consent that on Sunday, June 28, 
1914, there be a session of the House for the purpose of 
paying eulogies on the life, character, and public services 
of the late Representative Konig. Is there objection? 

Mr. Mann. At the regular hour? 

The Speaker. At 12 o'clock noon. Is there objection? 

There was no objection. 

[7] 



Memorial Addresses: Representative Konig 

Sunday, June 28, 19U. 

The House met at 12 o'clock noon and was called to 
order by the Speaker pro tempore, Mr. Linthicum. 

The Chaplain, Rev. Henry N. Couden, D. D., offered the 
following prayer: 

How wonderful are Thy works, God, how inscrutable 
are Thy ways; who can comprehend Thy wisdom; who 
can understand Thy power. Thou art almighty, yet we 
are not dismayed, for Thou hast revealed Thj'self in the 
heart of the Christ as the Father of all souls. Thy love is 
reflected in the overruling of Thy providence, in the sacri- 
fices of the patriot, the scientist, the philanthropist, in the 
love of parents for their offspring, in the sublime sacri- 
fice of Calvary. We are here to-day in memory of one 
who made himself a place in the hearts of his country- 
men by the heroism displayed in the common daily duties 
of life; in his struggles for the betterment of his fellows; 
the love of his country, his splendid devotion to father, 
mother, wife, and children. With a host of admirers and 
the overwhelming sorrow of those who are near and dear 
we mourn him, but not without hope, for Thou hast 
woven into our being a part of Thy substance which shall 
survive the wreck of time and live on with Thee forever. 
By this thought comfort us, by this truth solace the be- 
reaved wife and children. And songs of praises we will 
ever give to Thee in the spirit of Him who taught us 
faith, hope, love. Amen. 

The Speaker pro tempore. The Clerk will read the 
Journal of the proceedings of yesterday. 

Mr. Coady. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to 
dispense with the reading of the Journal, and that it be 
approved. 

The Speaker pro tempore. The gentleman from Mary- 
land asks unanimous consent to dispense with the read- 

[8] 



Proceedings in the House 



ing of the Journal and that it be approved. Is there 
objection? 

There was no objection. 

The Speaker pro tempore. The Clerk will read the 
special order for to-day. 

The Clerk read as follows: 

On motion of Mr. Coady, by unanimous consent, 
Ordered, That Sunday, June 28, 1914, be set apart for addresses 
upon the life, character, and public services of Hon. George 
Konig, late a Representative from the State of Maryland. 

Mr. Coady. Mr. Speaker, I offer the following resolu- 
tions, which I send to the Clerk's desk and ask to have 
read. 

The Clerk read as follows: 

Resolved, That the business of the House be now suspended that 
opportunity may be given for tributes to the memory of Hon. 
George Konig, late a Member of this House from the State of 
Maryland. 

Resolved, That as a particular mark of respect to the memory of 
the deceased and in recognition of his distinguished public career, 
the House, at the conclusion of these exercises, shall stand ad- 
journed. 

Resolved, That the Clerk communicate these resolutions to the 
Senate. 

Resolved, That the Clerk send a copy of these resolutions to the 
family of the deceased. 

The Speaker pro tempore. The question is on agreeing 
to the resolutions. 

The resolutions were agreed to. 



[9] 



MEMORIAL ADDRESSES 



Address of Mr. Coady, of Maryland 

Mr. Speaker: We are gathered here to-day in this 
historic chamber, the meeting place of the lower branch 
of the greatest legislative body in the world, to pay tribute 
to the memory of one who rose from the humble station 
of laborer to a place in this great body, sitting here as a 
representative of the city of Baltimore. 

Few men accomplish so much as this in their lifetimes, 
and such as do are remarkable men. George Konig was 
a remarkable man. 

We are told that he was born at North Point, Baltimore 
County, Md., near the famous battleground where, in 
1812, the raw militia from Baltimore drove back and de- 
feated the trained and seasoned British soldiers, killing 
their commander, Gen. Ross, and saving the Monumental 
City from the threatened English occupation. 

In his early youth his father moved to Baltimore, where 
young George obtained a position in a packing house, 
which required him to run errands and perform light 
laboring work. Subsequently, he worked in a shipyard, 
then on a fishing boat, and later he became apprenticed 
to a shipbuilding concern, where he learned the trade of 
calking, which he followed for some time thereafter. 

From these humble places in life he rose to be superin- 
tendent of the Baltimore Pulverizing Works; member of 
the first branch city council of Baltimore, which he held 
for four years; member of the second branch city council, 
which he held for a like period; and then to the House of 

[11] 



Memorial Addresses: Representative Konig 

Representatives, being first elected in 1910, and reelected 
in 1912. 

When we stop and think that he could not read or write 
until he reached early manhood, we can truthfully repeat 
that George Konig was a remarkable man. 

Let me read to you a biography of Mr. Konig, prepared 
and furnished by himself to the Baltimore papers: 

Yes, I was a calker — 

He said after his rise to a seat in Congress — 

I was a calker and a good one. But as I grew older there came a 
crisis in my life. 1 was one of those careless fellows, intent only 
upon drawing my pay envelope on Saturday night and just seeing 
how fast I could spend my money. I was always out for a good 
time. 

I joined the union and went to the meetings, and finally came 
to the conclusion that the president and other officers of the union 
were substantial men — men who did not carouse and drink and 
who were certain in their work. I saw- myself as simply a fol- 
lower of those better men. This put me to thinking, and I said to 
myself: " George Konig, which are you going to be? A leader or 
a follower? Why can't you be one of those substantial men in- 
stead of one of the bunch?" 

Right there I made my choice. I bought a primer and an arith- 
metic and several other books to start on, and started for home. 
" Hey, George, where are you going? " some of my friends yelled 
at me. " Come with us." " I am going home," I answered, and 
although they jeered at me when they found out I had bought the 
books, I went home and started plugging. I studied every night 
and wrestled with those books, first learning the letters and piec- 
ing out the words slowly. Hard work? It was the hardest job I 
have tackled. It was worse than pulling in those nets, but I 
plugged along and made some headway. 

In time I became head of my union by a majority of just one 
vote. The next year my election was unanimous. You see, the 
boys learned that I was making good and gave me their confi- 
dence. Since then I have prospered. I try to be on the level and 
square and to stick to my friends. When a man does that he is 
going to get along. 

[12] 



Address of Mr. Coady, of Maryland 



As a member of the city council of Baltimore, he was 
regular in attendance at its sessions, painstaking in his 
work, and at all times diligent in looking after the in- 
terests of the people he represented. He had the courage 
of his convictions. Once he determined a line of action 
to be right, he could not be swerved by influence of any 
kind, political or otherwise. This was demonstrated dur- 
ing the stirring times in the council that followed the 
great Baltimore conflagration of the year 1904, when his 
vote and influence were vainly sought in support of meas- 
ures that Mr. Konig's conscience told him were wrong. 

He discharged the important duties that were imposed 
upon him by reason of his membership in this House with 
credit and fidelity to his constituents, and received during 
his first term designations on two of the big and impor- 
tant committees of the House, the District of Columbia 
and Immigration, an unusual compliment to a new 
Member. 

He was a most useful member of both of those com- 
mittees. His eight years' service in the city council of 
Baltimore had familiarized him with many and impor- 
tant municipal problems, so that when he secured a place 
on the District Committee, his experience as a city legis- 
lator proved to be a valuable asset to that committee. 

He sought membership on the Immigration Committee 
because he believed this place would enable him to serve 
the large foreign-born population in his district. He had 
great sympathy for these people and served them well, 
and in return they had the highest regard and admiration 
for him. 

He was devoted to his friends. Busy as he was per- 
forming his congressional duties and looking after his 
business interests when he could, he never forgot those 
whom he knew well and associated with before success 
and prominence came to him. 



[13] 



Memorial Addresses : Representative Konig 

We learn that frequently and regularly he would visit 
all the political and social organizations in his district, 
where his old-time friends were accustomed to gather, 
and there meet them, fraternize with them, and talk over 
with them some of the incidents and happenings of the 
days when they and he were struggling hard to gain an 
existence. 

George Konig was a charitable man. He gave liberally 
of his means to the needy and afflicted, and no man seek- 
ing alms ever came away from him empty-handed. 

I believe he was more liberal than he could afford to be, 
but his heart was so big and he had so much sympathy 
for the distressed that he just simply could not resist an 
appeal to his generosity. 

I attended Mr. Konig's funeral, held in the city of Balti- 
more. A great concourse of people assembled in the 
vicinity of his home the morning he was buried; the 
church where the last sad rites were performed was 
crowded to the doors, hundreds being unable to gain ad- 
mission; and at the cemetery thousands gathered and 
stood with bared heads as all that was mortal of George 
Konig was committed to the ground. It was a remarkable 
tribute to a remarkable man. It was a mark of affection 
for a man who loved the people and who in turn loved 
and trusted him. 

Mr. Coady took the chair as Speaker pro tempore. 



[14] 



Address of Mr. Linthicum, of Maryland 

Mr. Speaker: These services in memory of our late 
colleague from Maryland vividly recall a similar service 
held in this Hall one Sunday a little more than a year ago 
in which Congressman Konig was himself a participant. 
I remember distinctly that on that Sabbath morning when 
he arose to speak in memory of the late Senator Rayner 
we all listened with keen interest because we had learned 
that though Congressman Konig was not fond of public 
speaking, whenever he did speak he had something to say 
and a manner of saying it which made it well worth 
hearing. We were not disappointed on that occasion, and 
I yet think of one paragraph in his address which im- 
pressed me at the time as expressing the philosophy of 
human life. He said: 

But, taking ourselves as we find ourselves, there is no man with 
an ambition to attain anything who does not, as soon as he attains 
it, find himself possessed of an ambition to attain something else 
above and beyond it, and the which if he does not attain leaves 
him as much unsatisfied as if his first ambition had not been 
realized. Such is the nature of human effort and ambition; per- 
haps it is well that it is so. 

How well the speaker's life typified that statement 
many here present know. The hand of death has stilled 
the voice which spoke those words, but he who ponders 
them can not but be convinced that they were uttered by 
one whose habits of thought placed within his grasp an 
intimate knowledge of human nature. 

And the man who uttered these words, whose reflec- 
tions brought him to this conclusion, was once spoken of 
as " uneducated." 

[15] 



Memorial Addresses: Representative Konig 

Perhaps he lacked the kind of education which is the 
only brand some people recognize. True, he could point 
to no college diploma. His alma mater was the rough 
school of life and experience, and from that body he 
graduated at the head of his class. He learned the cardi- 
nal virtues, sincerity, honesty, and energy. Possessing 
these essentials of success, he was successful. With an 
aversion to literary tasks begotten by infrequent use of 
the pen, doubtless it would have been an effort for him 
to write an essay on " Charity." He would have been 
equally as reluctant to express his views in a speech on 
that subject. But when it came to "doing" charity the 
act was a natural part of himself. His deeds proclaimed 
him more eloquently than did the writings or public 
addresses of others. 

The big heart in his bosom beat warmly for his fellow 
man, and that sympathy was outwardly expressed in 
countless acts of kindness. These acts, performed so 
naturally, so gracefully, were often known to no one but 
the doer. Those who know of some of them never fail 
to recall them but with increased admiration for the 
man. I was told of an incident which occurred after 
Congressman Konig began his services in this House. 
Upon returning to Baltimore one evening, after finishing 
his daily duties in Washington, he found an old lady, an 
invalid, sitting in a wheel chair in the depot. She was 
pathetically excited, her distress being evident to all who 
observed her. Pausing to learn the cause of her discom- 
fort, Congressman Konig inquired in that kindly, sym- 
pathetic manner which ever distinguished him and was 
told that she had returned to Baltimore from a visit, and 
it had been arranged that some of her relatives were to 
meet her at the station to take her home. She had ar- 
rived and had been waiting for an hour or more, but none 
of her family had appeared. 



[16] 



Address of Mr. Linthicum, of Maryland 

The Congressman inquired her address, and when it 
was told him, volunteered to wheel her home himself. 
When he got her home, she explained with much grati- 
tude that she was without funds to compensate him for 
his trouble, but asked his name, telling him that she 
would remember him in her prayers, and pray for a 
blessing upon him. I need not attempt to describe the 
surprise of the good lady when her benefactor modestly 
told his name and admitted that he was the man who 
represented her part of the city in the Congress of the 
United States. Innumerable acts of kindness like this 
established Congressman Konig in the affection and esti- 
mation of those who knew him. 

Congressman Konig was not a fluent speaker. Perhaps 
he was often silent because he was conscious of his limi- 
tations in speech. I would not have you think he was 
unable to express himself, for when the occasion de- 
manded, or the spirit of the moment roused him, he was 
capable of delivering himself in English terse and ex- 
pressive. But, as a rule, he did not rush into words. He 
thought, he analyzed, he revolved the proposition in his 
own mind carefully, and when he spoke what he said 
was worth hearing. Perhaps the thought was not set 
forth strictly according to the rules in the " little blue 
grammar " of Kerl and McGuffey, but it was pictured in 
words that adequately conveyed the views of the speaker, 
and these views were generally popularly indorsed as 
" practical common sense." 

When George Konig was elected a Member of this 
House there were many people who smiled; who won- 
dered the kind of Representative his limited educational 
qualifications would enable him to make; who waited 
with curiosity his advent in the councils of our Nation. 
For these* there was in store a surprise. How great was 
that surprise I can best describe by reading from an edi- 

4097°— 15 2 [17] 



Memorial Addresses: Representative Kontg 

torial in the New York Sun of June 3, 1911, inspired by 
Congressman Konig's first speech in Congress. Permit me 
to remind you that the first effort of every new Congress- 
man is not discussed in the editorial columns of this great 
metropolitan daily. The Sun saw in Congressman Konig's 
effort subject of interesting speculation, and its verdict on 
that effort was as follows: 

The Hon. George Konig, of Baltimore, in an autobiographical 
sketch in the Congressional Directory, says that he " was denied 
the opportunity of acquiring a school education, and it was not 
until quite advanced in years that he taught himself, under great 
difficulties, reading and writing." The maiden speech of such a 
man in the House is therefore of more than ordinary interest, 
especially when, as in the case of Hon. George Konig, there is a 
tendency in some quarters to decry his merits and regard him as a 
breezy and amusing character who got into Congress by a fluke. 
But the self-made who push their way to greatness, careless of the 
susceptibilities they tread on, are seldom judged fairly. 

Probably the Hon. George Konig, who calked ships for 10 years 
and rose to be the manager of a pulverizing company and a law- 
maker in Congress, is not sensitive to the flippant criticism of the 
less successful. They expected George Konig to make a laughing 
stock of himself when he spoke his first piece in Congress. We 
are inclined to think that it was rather a creditable effort of the 
calker who taught himself to read and write. At any rate, many 
worse speeches have been made by more imposing persons who 
were never calkers. Mr. Konig talked about the bill to admit New 
Mexico and Arizona as States and took up only a minute or two of 
the House's time. He had decided to vote for the bill in spite of 
the provision for the recall of judges in the Arizona constitution, 
of which he did not approve. "Anyway, my friends, it is Arizona's 
funeral, not ours," said Mr. Konig, holding that the Arizonans, if 
they made a mistake in the constitution they wanted, would dis- 
cover and correct it. What the ex-calker thought of the recall of 
judges has not always been better said. 

It will be seen that the Hon. George Konig is no orator, but just 
a plain man with a well-developed bump of common sense and a 
modest gift of idiomatic English. And he has no mean turn for 
epigram, too. 

[18] 



Address of Mr. Linthicum, of Maryland 

Congressman Konig, as stated by my colleague, was 
born in 1856 near North Point, Md., where was fought the 
memorable battle of that name in our War of 1812. At 
an early age he moved to Baltimore, where was spent 
practically his entire life. His father was a farmer whose 
share of the world's goods did not permit him to offer 
his son George those opportunities for gaining an educa- 
tion which are extended the average American youth. 
It is said that so meager was the instruction young Konig 
received that it was not until he reached his majority that 
he learned to read or write. But though he did not possess 
the average scholastic education enjoyed by the youth of 
our land, he was generously endowed with what is termed 
" good common sense," the intelligent application of 
which was directed by a mind and heart that acted 
warmly in unison for the betterment of his fellow men. 

No one in distress or want ever appealed in vain to 
George Konig. Soon he became known as the friend of 
the poor, and from their aid and assistant he became their 
counselor and father confessor. When a representative 
from his section of the city was needed in the city council, 
and it became known that George Konig would esteem 
that distinction, the honor was thrust upon him willingly 
and eagerly. 

It had ever been the practice of Konig to do well and 
thoroughly every task to which he applied himself, and 
when he became the representative of his people in the 
city council he gave to his new duty the same undivided 
attention and unfaltering devotion he had brought to bear 
on the work of his daily trade. The ship calker made 
good. His colleagues in the city council soon found that 
what he lacked in acquired knowledge he more than 
made up in those qualifications born with him. They 
learned to regard his judgment with respect and to rely 
upon his unerring intuition. 



[19] 



Memorial Addresses: Representative Konig 

He left the city council to become a Member of Con- 
gress, and in this body and in this larger field he made 
new conquests of friends and established his views in the 
respectful attention of his fellow workers. He followed 
out the principles and precepts of his party at all times 
and under all circumstances. He looked upon the plat- 
form of his party as a contract entered into with the 
people, and carried out that contract to the letter. 

Few men have come to this House more dearly loved by 
their constituents. Members of this Chamber who com- 
posed the party who traveled to Baltimore to attend the 
funeral of Congressman Konig witnessed a touching dem- 
onstration of this affection in the crowds that flocked to 
his home, who lined the streets, surrounded the church, 
and followed his body to the grave. 

The lives of many public men are pointed out for the 
youth of our country as proof that to the boy who is 
ambitious there is no position not within his reach. As 
a rule, the examples used to illustrate this statement are 
the lives of men raised in the country, whose young days 
were spent amid rural surroundings. The instances of 
city boys, reared under circumstances so humble as to 
closely approach poverty, but rising through sheer per- 
sonal worth, are not so numerous. 

Fortunately, whether a boy is born in the country or in 
the city, if he is ambitious, if he possess those virtues and 
those traits of character which establish him in the esteem 
and confidence of his neighbors, there is no position of 
honor and trust to which he may not aspire with the 
probability of some day witnessing the realization of his 
dreams. 

The city boy who reads the life of Congressman Konig, 
who observes his career upward to a place in the councils 
of our Nation, will see that his chances for gratifying his 
life ambition have been made clear, because the upward 
trail has been already hewn. The life of this Representa- 

[20] 



Address of Mr. Linthicum, of Maryland 

tive from Maryland will, therefore, prove an inspiration 
to every city boy in the land, an inspiration that will 
reach down in every side street, that will grip the imagi- 
nation of the youth of our most crowded tenements. The 
lesson it teaches is that the goal of achievement is within 
the reach of every American boy possessed of the courage 
and resolution to make the effort. 



[21] 



Address of Mr. Lewis, of Maryland 

Mr. Speaker: I, too, enjoyed the friendship of the late 
Hon. George Konig, although it began only with our com- 
mon service in this body and ceased too soon for me, as 
well as all of us. 

What is a man? His first attribute will be the quali- 
fication he may possess to make him understood by his 
fellows and to understand his fellows. In that respect 
our late colleague was a man, indeed. He was easily 
understood, because of that simplicity of character which 
is always the characteristic of great men. For even 
though its presence may not necessarily denote the great 
man, simplicity is always a qualification of greatness. It 
was doubtless due to this simplicity of character, as well 
as his- sympathy for human beings, and the uncommon 
common sense, which has just been referred to by one of 
the speakers, that he owed the very great distinction 
which had come to him under the most difficult and dis- 
couraging circumstances of life imaginable. 

His life story should be of value in one most important 
direction. There are none who are blind to the glamour 
of public distinction, but there are many among the poor 
and the plain people of our land in whom the assurance 
of success and achievement has been suppressed by a 
spirit of resignation begotten by generations of denial of 
opportunity in the Old World. Let their children lift 
their heads. This Republic was ordained for them, and 
by energy, honesty, and high patriotic purpose they can 
really open and enter every door in its incomparable 
temple of fame and honor. 



[22] 



Address of Mr. Lewis, of Maryland 



Mr. Linthicum resumed the chair as Speaker pro tem- 
pore. 

Mr. Coady. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that 
Members may have five legislative days in which to print 
and extend their remarks in the Record. 

The Speaker pro tempore. The gentleman from Mary- 
land [Mr. Coady] asks unanimous consent that Members 
may have five legislative days in which to print and ex- 
tend their remarks in the Record. Is there objection? 

There was no objection. 

The Speaker pro tempore. In accordance with the reso- 
lution previously adopted, the House will now stand 
adjourned until 12 o'clock noon to-morrow. 

Accordingly (at 12 o'clock and 35 minutes p. m.) the 
House adjourned until Monday, June 29, 1914, at 12 
o'clock noon. 



[23] 



Proceedings in the Senate 

Monday, June 2, 1913. 

A message from the House of Representatives, by D. K. 
Hempstead, its enrolling clerk, communicated to the Sen- 
ate the intelligence of the death of Hon. George Konig, 
late a Representative from the State of Maryland, and 
transmitted resolutions of the House thereon. 

The message also announced that the Speaker of the 
House had appointed as a committee on the part of the 
House Mr. Covington, Mr. Talbott of Maryland, Mr. Lin- 
thicum, Mr. Smith of Maryland, Mr. Lewis of Maryland, 
Mr. McDermott, Mr. Barkley, Mr. Sabath, Mr. Baker, Mr. 
Hayes, Mr. Bartholdt, Mr. Barton, Mr. Woods, and Mr. 
Gardner. 

The Vice President. The Chair lays before the Senate 
resolutions of the House of Representatives which will be 
read. 

The Secretary read the resolutions as follows: 

In the House of Representatives, 

June 2, 1913. 

Resolved, That the House has heard with profound sorrow of 
the death of Hon. George Konig, a Representative from the State 
of Maryland. 

Resolved, That a committee of 14 Members of the House, with 
such Members of the Senate as may be joined, be appointed to 
attend the funeral. 

Resolved, That the Sergeant at Arms of the House be authorized 
and directed to take such steps as may be necessary for carrying 
out the provisions of these resolutions, and that the necessary 
expenses in connection therewith be paid out of the contingent 
fund of the House. 

Resolved, That the Clerk communicate these resolutions to the 
Senate and transmit a copy thereof to the family of the deceased. 

Resolved, That as a further mark of respect this House do now 
adjourn. 

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Memorial Addresses: Representative Konig 

Mr. Jackson. I offer the resolutions which I send to the 
desk, and ask unanimous consent for their present con- 
sideration. 

The resolutions were read, considered hy unanimous 
consent, and unanimously agreed to, as follows: 

Resolved, That the Senate has heard with profound sorrow the 
announcement of the death of the Hon. George Konig, late a Rep- 
resentative from the State of Maryland. 

Resolved, That a committee of eight Senators be appointed by 
the Vice President to join the committee appointed on the part of 
the House of Representatives to take order for superintending the 

funeral of Mr. Konig at Baltimore, Md. 

i 

Resolved, That the Secretary communicate a copy of these reso- 
lutions to the House of Representatives and to the family of the 
deceased. 

The Vice President appointed, under the second reso- 
lution, Mr. Martin of Virginia, Mr. Chilton, Mr. Saulsbury, 
Mr. Johnston of Alabama, Mr. Jones, Mr. Dillingham, Mr. 
Smith of Maryland, and Mr. Jackson as the committee on 
the part of the Senate. 

Mr. Jackson. I move, as a further mark of respect to the 
memory of the deceased, that the Senate adjourn. 

The motion was unanimously agreed to; and (at 6 
o'clock and 20 minutes p. m.) the Senate adjourned until 
Thursday, June 5, 1913, at 2 o'clock p. m. 



Tuesday, June 30, 19U. 
A message from the House of Representatives, by J. C. 
South, its Chief Clerk, announced that the House trans- 
mitted resolutions on the life and public services of Hon. 
George Konig, late a Representative from the State of 
Maryland. 



[26] 



FUNERAL SERVICES 
[From the Baltimore Star of June 4, 1913] 

Boyhood friends of George Konig, Representative in 
Congress from Maryland's third congressional district, 
this morning carried his body through a line of distin- 
guished citizens of the city, the State, and the Nation, 
while thousands of persons stood with bowed heads as the 
final tributes were paid to one who had risen from the 
humblest walks of life to be one of the Nation's law- 
makers. 

It was a sight long to be remembered as scores of police- 
men lined the sidewalks and the streets and held the 
great crush of humanity in check, both at the Konig home, 
2733 Eastern Avenue, and St. Bridget's Catholic Church, 
Ellwood Avenue and Hudson Street. It was by far the 
largest funeral that East Baltimore had ever seen. 

Only the members of the family, a few close friends, 
the congressional party, members of the Democratic 
State central committee, and the members of the city 
council were able to get within earshot of the parlor of 
the Konig home, when, at 10 o'clock, Rev. Lawrence J. 
McNamara, pastor of St. Bridget's Church, read the prayer 
of blessing of the dead. Then the body was carried out 
of the house by the active pallbearers through the long 
line of honorary pallbearers. 

Postmaster Sherlock Swann and 50 letter carriers of the 
Baltimore post office lined up on the pavement opposite 
the house, and as the casket was being moved to the 
hearse Joseph Roberts, leader of the letter carriers' band, 
played Nearer, My God to Thee on his cornet. 

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Memorial Addresses: Representative Konig 

The letter carriers formed a guard of honor and flanked 
both sides of the hearse and marched from the home to 
the church. A committee of four members from the Let- 
ter Carriers' Association also went to the cemetery. 

The funeral cortege moved from the Konig home out 
Eastern Avenue to Ellwood, thence to Fait, to East Ave- 
nue, to Hudson Street, to the front of the edifice. It was 
about 11.30 o'clock when Funeral Director John A. Moran 
had all of those able to gain admittance to the edifice 
within. Admission was by card only, save for the imme- 
diate family and the funeral party and for those who 
represented organizations, who were present to pay their 
last respects to a departed friend, coworker, and associate. 

PLACED WREATH ON CASKET 

As the body was borne into the church and placed in 
front of the altar, three little girls, Barbara Sadowski, 
Mary Pietrowrak, and Mary Maychozak, members of St. 
Stanislaus' Polish Catholic Church, walked up the aisle 
carrying a wreath and deposited the floral offering on 
top of the casket, which was already covered with a pall 
of roses, the tribute of the Democrats of the first ward. 

Rev. Lawrence J. McNamara, rector of the church, was 
the celebrant of the solemn requiem high mass, assisted 
by Rev. James F. Donohue, as deacon, and Rev. John J. 
Corbett, subdeacon; Joseph L. Curran, a seminarian and 
a brother of William Curran, who was Mr. Konig's secre- 
tary, was master of ceremonies. As the casket was car- 
ried into the church Miss Blanche Barry Barnitz sang 
I Have Waited for the Lord. Miss Barnitz also sang 
Stabat Mater. Thomas F. McNulty sang Jesus, Lover of 
My Soul, and Miss Isabelle McLain sang Raise Me, Jesus. 

At the conclusion of the mass Father McNamara eulo- 
gized Mr. Konig. 



[28] 



Funeral Services 



EULOGY OF DECEASED 

In his sermon Father McNamara dwelt on the life of 
the Congressman as a beacon light to all men and women 
for all time to come. He said that it was impossible to 
eulogize the career of him, for he had eulogized himself 
by his acts through his life, and that upon this occasion 
the Nation joined with the family and the people of Bal- 
timore and the State of Maryland to do honor to him. 
In part he said: 

To tell the story of the young man of destiny — for he was a man 
of destiny — we must take ourselves back to the spirit that 
breathed life 57 years ago at North Point. And he was a remark- 
able man, all things considered. We shall find how great he 
was as we miss him in this community, and this great outpouring 
of people from this city, as well as from the State, attests to the 
esteem in which he was held. We must look along the line of 
endeavor that took him from North Point to the Capital of the 
United States. We see him with a fixedness of purpose trans- 
planted from time to time through the various spheres of life, and 
we find him as an example of a father, who in this particular was 
ready to sacrifice himself, not for a friend, but for his family. 

Father McNamara then dwelt on the public career of 
Konig and how through the influence of his goodness of 
heart he had won thousands to his support, not merely 
by the handclasp, but by deeds. He then took up the 
phase of Konig's outspokenness, which had won for him 
many friends, for he was never afraid to state his posi- 
tion open and aboveboard under any circumstances. He 
said he was a man who gave no quarter in honest battle 
and was always ready to shake the hand of his enemy 
after combat. 

He then told of how he had accepted the faith of the 
church last Wednesday about the same lime he was 
preaching, and of his frankness of heart, which proved 
that he always stayed close to the path of God, even 
though he did not accept religion in his daily walk of life. 

[29] 



Memorial Addresses: Representative Konig 

It was shortly before 1 o'clock before the funeral cor- 
tege left the church for the cemetery. 

The honorary pallbearers included, besides the Demo- 
cratic State central committee, the following: 

The members of the senatorial committee from Wash- 
ington, Senators Jones, of Washington; Martin, of Vir- 
ginia; Saulsbury, of Delaware; and Smith, of Maryland, 
and Joseph E. O'Toole, Acting Assistant Sergeant at Arms. 
The committee from the House of Representatives: 
Congressmen Linthicum, Talbott, Covington, Smith, and 
Lewis, of Maryland; James T. McDermott, of Illinois; 
J. Thompson Raker, of New Jersey; Richard Rartholdt, 
of Missouri; F. P. Woods, of Iowa; A. P. Gardner, of 
Massachusetts; and Robert B. Gordon, Sergeant at Arms. 
Judge James P. Gorter, of the supreme bench of Balti- 
more; State Senator Charles P. Coady, former Congress- 
men Harry Welles Rusk and Harry B. Wolf, Lee S. Meyer, 
A. J. Cilento, William E. Martin, Patrick J. Lynch, Samuel 
Cannatella, Adolph C. Statter, Michael Feller, Leo F. 
Winterling, and Harry F. Burch. 

The active pallbearers — Charles Abrums, Frank Shaney, 
Henry Berwig, Charles Summers, George Travers, and 
James Byrnes — were all boyhood friends of the dead 
Congressman. 

CROWD AT HOME 

As early as 6 o'clock this morning scores of women and 
children began to make their way to vantage points, both 
at the home, on Eastern Avenue, and at the church. 
Many of them found the crush at the home too much for 
them, for persons lined both sides of the streets and 
were held in check by the policemen, and went to the 
church in the hope of gaining a scat of vantage. They 
were disappointed, for admission was by card only, and 
hundreds of persons were forced to remain in the streets, 

[30] 



Funeral Services 



for the church was jammed, its capacity being less than 
500 persons. Many more, however, were crowded into 
the edifice. 

One dozen floral carriages were necessary to convey the 
more than fourscore floral tributes that represented every 
conceivable design known to the florists' art. Wreaths 
and crosses, gates ajar, stars, broken columns, and even 
a ship of flowers 8 feet in length, the tribute of the Calkers' 
Union, the association in which Uncle George first learned 
the art of becoming a master of men. 



o 



[31] 



